The intented meaning behind Kaufman's use of understatement in relation to American drama is to show how the British act in serious situations. He is simply making fun of them and the way they behave. Kaufman is parodying British manners through the unconcerned characters.
They wanted to drink whiskey duh! they thought the government was interfering with their lives too much by trying to prohibit them from drinking with the tax
Conference committee
A conference committee is a special joint committee that brings together members of the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve issues in legislation to create a bill based in compromise.
A conference committee is used when the House and Senate versions of a bill differ enough that the bill will not be passed in its current state. These committees must compromise to create a new bill or the legislation will be at risk of dying before a vote. Major issues are typically the focus of conference committees such as health care, education, and human rights legislation.
The Abbasid dynasty fell to the Mongols and became part of the Mongol empire
I think it might be Western Samoa