the PMC was Ludwig Kastl who joined the PMC in October 1927. Germany withdrew from the League in 1933, ending its membership of the PMC. Japan withdrew from the League in 1938, ending its membership on the PMC. 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. By the mid-1920s, the Commission "began to resemble a spa for retired African governors." Even though it was composed of individuals from imperial and foreign policy establishments, the organization did act independently. This was in part because of the lack of term limits (which led to camaraderie among members and the development of expertise), the authority derived from written texts (which allowed the members to perform impartiality), and the publication of the organization's deliberations. She argues that the Commission was at its most influential in 1932. According to Pedersen, Commission members believed in a civilizing mission. Modus Operandi The Commission met in sessions once or twice a year to consider annual reports from the mandates; within any session, any number of meetings could be held usually in private although any of these could be public. Extraordinary sessions could also be held in special circumstances. The Commission held its first session from 4 to 8 October 1921. At the first meeting, the members determined that they had the right to examine all aspects of administration in the mandated territories (not just those mandated in the Covenant), that a comprehensive list of questions should be asked of all mandate powers, and that mandate powers should send all relevant legislation that affects territories to the Commission. The last meeting was held at the 37th final session from 12 to 21 December 1939. Mandates The Commission oversaw three types of mandates. Class A Mandates Class B Mandates Class C Mandates References External links A full list of the commission’s members over time is given in pages 181-182 of League of Nations