World Leaders Praise Role of Chernenko in Resuming Talks : ‘Deep Desire’ for Peace Cited; Chile Calls Him ‘Puppet’

World leaders offered condolences today on the death of Soviet President Konstantin U. Chernenko, with some praising him for paving the way for new U.S.-Soviet arms talks. But a Chilean official dismissed him as “a puppet” who never really ruled the Soviet Union during his 13-month tenure.

Japanese Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe said the coming arms control talks in Geneva were Chernenko’s major achievement, and U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said the Soviet leader had a “deep desire” to end the arms race.

In Santiago, Chilean Foreign Minister Jaime del Valle declared that “Chernenko never really ruled the Soviet Union--he was just a puppet figure. The great Soviet leaders of two decades ago, who had imposing personalities, can no longer be found in the Soviet Union.”

In Sydney, Australia, the newspaper the Australian said in an editorial that “in many ways Mr. Chernenko was the leader who never was. For it has been apparent since his election in early 1984 . . . that he was a stopgap leader.”

‘Opportunities for Dialogue’

But in a message of condolence on Chernenko’s death, Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos said: “It is sad to think that he has passed from the scene at a time when new opportunities for dialogue and understanding are opening between the United States and the Soviet Union.

“For he had spoken often for peace, and many in the world joined him in that hope and continue to this hour.”

In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone called Chernenko a man of “flexible pacifism” and said he hoped that his death would have no adverse effect on the arms talks in Geneva.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry lauded what it said were Chernenko’s efforts to improve Sino-Soviet ties and said he was “an outstanding leader of the party and state of the Soviet Union.”

‘Profound Condolences’

“His passing away is undoubtedly a great loss to the Soviet people and we express our profound condolences on it. Not long before his passing away, President Chernenko expressed his hopes for further good development of Sino-Soviet relations,” a statement from Peking’s communist leaders said.

In Bonn, the West German government expressed condolences and pledged to remain a “good neighbor” to the Soviet Union.

In London, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a message of condolences to Moscow and said that “although he held the highest office for a relatively short period, his death has deprived the Soviet Union of an experienced leader.”

Pope John Paul II sent a telegram to Moscow saying he hoped that the Soviets would “accept the expression of my condolences, and I assure you of a particular thought for the memory of the illustrious deceased.”

“In the international field he took many initiatives for peace and to contain the nuclear arms race,” Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said.