[6] Britain and France sought to govern these territories as colonies, whereas U.S. president Woodrow Wilson opposed their manoeuvres.
[7] As a compromise, it was agreed that the former Ottoman and German colonial possessions would be administered as mandates by individual states whose administration would be subject to oversight by the PMC.
[10] Britain and France were tasked with guiding these territories towards self-governance and independence, with the expectation that they would be administered for the benefit of their inhabitants.
However, due to the significant legislative influence exerted by Britain and France within the PMC, coupled with the commission’s lack of executive authority, these powers were able to govern their mandated territories in much the same way as their other colonies.
[12] The Commission had 10 and later, 11 members (or twelve, if Sweden and Norway, which shared their seat, represented first by Anna Bugge-Wicksell and later by Valentine Dannevig, are counted separately).
[15] According to historian Susan Pedersen, the organization was "very much an imperialists' club," as five out of nine initial members were retired colonial governors, ministers or high officials.