News In Brief

Bonn says East German chief would still be welcome

Chancellor Helmut Kohl on Wednesday rejected East German leader Erich Honecker's reason for canceling his West German visit but said he was still welcome.

Mr. Honecker had canceled the proposed Sept. 26-29 visit because of unfriendly remarks by West German political leaders. It was widely believed in Bonn that Honecker had bowed to pressure from the Soviet Union.

In Warsaw, Poland's official Communist Party newspaper said yesterday that Honecker's postponement was a ''proper rebuff'' to Dr. Kohl's government. It said Kohl's policy toward East Germany was aimed at ''eroding its socialist system and absorbing it into a 'united Germany.' ''