Gorbachev to Visit France, West Germany

New Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev, after agreeing to visit France, accepted an invitation today to visit West Germany in a further sign he hopes to improve relations with the West.

Gorbachev accepted the German invitation in a meeting with West German chancellor Helmut Kohl at the start of a second day of talks with world leaders who attended the funeral Wednesday of President Konstantin U. Chernenko.

Kohl said that during their meeting the new Soviet leader reiterated his opposition to Western European participation in President Reagan’s “Star Wars” research. But, Kohl said, there was no warning, as in the past, about its jeopardizing arms control agreements.

“Gorbachev indicated that he doesn’t want Western Europe to go along with or participate in” the space defense system, Kohl told reporters. He refused to elaborate.

No Date for Bonn Visit

The “Star Wars” plan was the major subject of conversation Wednesday between Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher, the British prime minister told reporters.

Kohl said they set no date for Gorbachev to visit Bonn. Earlier, Gorbachev also accepted an invitation from French President Francois Mitterrand to visit France, although he did not set a date.

The meetings Wednesday and today with Western leaders, including U.S. Vice President George Bush, underscored the Kremlin’s deep concern over relations with Washington and its allies, which have been chilled over deployment of U.S. nuclear missiles in Western Europe.

Tass press agency said Gorbachev “reiterated the Soviet Union’s readiness, provided the U.S. side was also ready, to work in practice to improve” U.S.-Soviet relations.

“It was at the same time stressed anew that the U.S.S.R. would never forsake its lawful security interests or the interests of its allies,” Tass added.