The Permanent Mandates Commission was established by the League of Nations in 1920 to provide oversight of territories placed under mandate after World War 1. It ensured that countries like Britain and France ruled these former German and Ottoman colonies in the interests of their populations rather than for their own interests. The Commission reviewed annual reports from mandate powers and provided advice to the League Council. It was the first time France and Britain had faced any oversight of their imperial activities. The Commission included both mandate powers and independent states and met annually to consider reports on Class A, B, and C mandates held by countries like Britain, France, Australia, South Africa and Japan.

1. League of Nations – Mr. D’s History – St. Peter’s College, Auckland, New Zealand
THE PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION
OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
The Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, first meeting 1921.
The Permanent Mandates Commission (PMC) was the commission of the
League of Nations responsible for oversight of mandated territories.
The First World War had led to many former colonies of Germany and
her allies ending up as League of Nations mandates, ruled by Britain and
France on behalf of the League.
The Permanent Mandate Commission made sure that Britain and France
acted in the interests of people of that territory, not in its own
interests.
The PMC was the first instance that either France or Britain had been
subjected to any kind of imperial oversight.
The first twenty-six articles of the Treaty of Versailles contained the League
of Nations Covenant. Article 22 stipulated that "A permanent Commission
shall be constituted to receive and examine the annual reports of the
Mandatories and to advise the Council on all matters relating to the
observance of the mandates."

2. League of Nations – Mr. D’s History – St. Peter’s College, Auckland, New Zealand
The commission was established on 1 December 1920 under Article 22
of the Covenant and was headquartered at Geneva.
The Commission had 10 and later, 11 members. Four of these members
were Mandatory Powers, 7 were independent powers and one seat
was held by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Members served without fixed term.
The Commission met in sessions once or twice a year to consider
annual reports.
Extraordinary sessions could also be held in special circumstances.
The Commission held its first session from 4 to 8 October 1921 and the
37th final session from 12 to 21 December 1939.
Class A Mandates
Palestine (United Kingdom)
Mesopotamia (United Kingdom, but not enacted)
Syria (France)
Class B Mandates
Ruanda-Urundi (Belgium)
Tanganyika (United Kingdom)
French Cameroon (France)
British Cameroon (United Kingdom)
French Togoland (France)
British Togoland (United Kingdom)
Class C Mandates
New Guinea (Australia/United Kingdom)
Nauru (Australia/New Zealand/United Kingdom)
Western Samoa (New Zealand/United Kingdom)
South Seas Mandate (Japan)
South-West Africa (South Africa/United Kingdom)