Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 402 . In its resolution 319 ( IV ) of 3 December 1949 , the General Assembly decided `` to establish , as of 1 January 1951 , a High Commissioner 's Office for Refugees '' and `` to renew , no later than at its eighth regular session , the arrangements for the High Commissioner 's Office for Refugees with a view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31 December 1953 '' .