The mandates were divided into three categories:
Class A mandates: These were the most developed territories, and were expected to be able to achieve independence in the near future. They included Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.
Class B mandates: These territories were less developed than the Class A mandates, and were expected to need a longer period of tutelage before they could achieve independence. They included Iraq, Transjordan, and Cameroon.
Class C mandates: These territories were the least developed, and were expected to need a long period of tutelage before they could achieve independence. They included German East Africa, German South-West Africa, and Western Samoa.
The mandate system was controversial from the beginning, as some people argued that it was a form of colonialism. However, it did provide a framework for the administration of these territories and helped to ensure that their inhabitants were not neglected. The mandate system was eventually abolished in 1946, when most of the mandated territories had achieved independence.