Which countries were intended to be permanent members of the League of Nations Council?

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Delegates in formal attire seated closely together at an international League of Nations conference, circa 1930. — League of Nations Delegates attending a League of Nations meeting, c. 1930.

The Council of the League of Nations was originally intended to include five great powers as permanent members: the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.12

In practice, however, the United States seat was never occupied, as the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, preventing the country from joining the League. Additionally, while it was expected that Germany and the U.S.S.R. might eventually become permanent members, the Council's structure evolved differently, with the number of elected nonpermanent members increasing over time rather than maintaining the originally intended majority of great powers.12