Thor Heyerdahl's book Kon-Tiki is published.

Marc Chagall's painting King David is exhibited.

Alberto Giacometti's sculpture Seven Figures and a Head is exhibited.

Max Ophuls's film La Ronde premieres.

Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon premieres.

Australia retains Davis cup in tennis, winning finals against United States.

18 Jan.

Christopher Fry's play Venus Observed opens at Saint James Theatre, London.

21 Jan.

T. S. Eliot's play The Cocktail Party opens at New York's Henry Miller Theater.

29 Jan.

The Vatican recognizes baptisms in the Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, and Disciples of Christ faiths.

24 Feb.

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches in Bossey, Switzerland, appeals for a world peace initiative.

7 Feb.

Great Britain and the United States recognize the Vietnamese government of Bao Dai.

1 Mar.

Chiang Kai-shek assumes the presidency of Nationalist China on the island of Formosa (Taiwan).

27 Apr.

Marshal Tito is reelected premier of Yugoslavia.

President Harry S Truman initiates...