Leopold III, exiled king of Belgium, returns to his country and is met by socialist demonstrations protesting his arrival.

1 Aug.

Leopold III reluctantly abdicates the throne of Belgium in favor of his son Baudouin.

3 Aug.

Pope Pius XII declares abstract art and "art for art's sake" immoral.

25 Oct.

Jean Anouilh's play The Rehearsal opens at Paris's Theatre Marigny.

1 Nov.

Pope Pius XII publicly proclaims the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

5 Nov.

The London Sunday Times awards £1000 to T. S. Eliot, naming his play The Cocktail Party the year's outstanding contribution to English literature.

30 Nov.

The Soviet Union vetoes a UN ultimatum demanding Chinese Communists withdraw from Korea.

19 Dec.

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower is named supreme commander of Allied Forces in Western Europe by NATO.

23 Dec.

The Vatican confirms the discovery of Saint Peter's tomb beneath Saint Peter's Basilica.

28 Dec.

The Time magazine choice for "Man...