What were mandates established during the Paris peace conference?

During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, mandates were established as a system of administration for former territories of the Ottoman Empire and Germany, intended to prepare these regions for self-governance. The League of Nations classified mandates into three categories: Class A mandates, which were considered closest to independence (e.g., Iraq, Syria); Class B mandates, which required more oversight (e.g., Tanganyika); and Class C mandates, which were deemed to be less developed and administered as part of the administering nation’s territory (e.g., South West Africa). This system aimed to balance the interests of the victorious powers with the needs of the local populations, though it often faced criticism for perpetuating imperial control.