Other anti-partitionist MPs were invited, but Socialist Republican Party MP Harry Diamond refused to attend.
The Derry Journal, generally sympathetic to the nationalist cause, attacked two prominent members: T. J. Campbell for resigning as an MP in order to take up a position as a judge, and Cahir Healy for pledging to support the Ulster Unionist Party leadership of the parliament in their campaign to withhold some contributions to the HM Treasury in order to improve housing.
A few months later, Thomas Maguire accused McSparran of rejecting a position as a judge solely because it was insufficiently well paid.
"[4] There was dismay when in the July 1945 election the Friends threw support behind a candidate of the Northern Ireland Labour Party for whom Irish unity was not an issue.
[2] The League held its first annual convention at Dungannon on 11 April 1947 - 146 delegates attended, nominated by 63 branches, and McAteer was elected vice chairman.
The League organised a rally in Dublin on 25 January 1948, challenging Éamon de Valera to push the British Government on the question of partition.
He was soon out of office, and embarked on a world tour speaking in favour of a united Ireland, which the League claimed as a success.
[2] A general election in Northern Ireland was called for 1949, and the League organised selection conventions for each constituency where there was a chance of an anti-partitionist victory.
[6] McGleenan did not take his seat, declaring his allegiance was only to the Republic of Ireland, but he campaigned alongside the Nationalist MPs and remained active in the League.
The British section was also struggling, and motions to its conference called for it to prioritise recruitment and propaganda over attacks on other parties.
[2] The party organised a march through Derry on St Patrick's Day 1951, displaying the flag of the Republic of Ireland.
[2] At the 1956 Mid Ulster by-election, the League stood Michael O'Neill in an attempt to unseat abstentionist MP Tom Mitchell, but this split the nationalist vote and independent Unionist George Forrest was elected.
Some local clubs became branches of the Nationalist Party, while the remnants of the British section became the United Irish Association.
McGill ordered McAteer to closely watch the meeting to ensure that it did not discuss policy, worrying that Traynor would try to cause trouble for the Nationalist Party.