Chernenko Ill, Cancels Meeting : Couldn’t See Papandreou; Has Been Absent 6 Weeks

President Konstantin U. Chernenko, who has not been seen in public in six weeks, canceled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou today because of illness, a Greek government spokesman said.

“The planned meeting of the premier of Greece with the general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party could not take place due to the illness of Mr. Chernenko,” the spokesman, Dimitrios Maroudas, said.

Asked if the Greeks were given any information about the nature of Chernenko’s ailment, Maroudas said: “We have no such curiosity.”

Hints of Travel

Earlier, Soviet officials had said that the 73-year-old Chernenko was out of the capital and that was the reason he could not meet with Papandreou.

“These two things do not necessarily contradict each other,” Maroudas said. “He could be ill and out of town at the same time.”

Chernenko has not appeared in public since Dec. 27, when he was shown on television presenting awards to Soviet writers. He seemed reasonably healthy, though he still suffered from his characteristic shortness of breath believed to be caused by emphysema.

But a short time later he dropped from public view and officials admitted that he was ill. They did not, however, disclose the nature or severity of his ailment.

More recently, there have been conflicting statements from different officials about Chernenko. Some have said he is ill but working. Others have said he was on a winter vacation.

Last Thursday, the official Tass news agency said Chernenko attended a regular weekly meeting of the 11-man ruling Politburo. Diplomats interpreted that as a sign that he could be well enough to meet with the socialist Greek prime minister.

Uncertain Until Last Moment

A spokeswoman at the Greek Embassy in Moscow said it had been uncertain until the last moment whether the meeting would take place.

Ionna Haritatou, a press officer at the embassy, told reporters Monday night that Papandreou’s schedule set aside “reserved time” starting at 4:30 p.m. (Moscow time) today.

“Everybody thinks that tomorrow he will meet Chernenko, that is the impression that has been given,” she had said.

Western diplomats say it would be customary for Chernenko to make a public appearance toward the end of the month, when he might make a speech before the Feb. 24 elections for the Russian Federation Parliament, in which he is a candidate.

Speech Is Protocol

According to protocol, Chernenko should speak two days before the election in what is usually a highly publicized event, the diplomats say.

Some diplomats speculate that the conflicting reports on Chernenko’s health are the result of a Kremlin power struggle between old-guard Chernenko supporters and elements eager to see a change to a younger leadership.

Chernenko’s prolonged absence focused attention once again on illness and old age in the Soviet leadership. It came exactly one year after Chernenko took power upon the death of Yuri V. Andropov, who was absent from public view for the last six months of his 15-month tenure as Soviet leader.