Webster tells of getting early tip on North

WASHINGTON FBI Director William H. Webster testified yesterdaythat a Justice Department official advised him last October - nearlya month before the investigation of Lt. Col. Oliver L. North began -that classified information should be withheld from North because hemight be involved in a criminal investigation.

Webster said he was worried that North, whom he described as a"gung ho man with tunnel vision," was running an unauthorized"freewheeling" operation for a long time before the Iran-contra armsaffair was disclosed.

He said the investigation mentioned by the unidentified officialwould center on U.S. activities in Central America. North was firedNov. 11 as a …