Why is it that countries often compensate their vanquished goes for conquered territory? Why not just force them to relinquish claims to it in the peace treaty.

by Erstezeitwar

For example, the US compensated Mexico for the Southwest territory at the end of the Mexican-American War.

Edit: Foes not goes.

davepx

Three possible reasons: to counter lingering ill-feeling on the part of the defeated nation which might one day be wanted as a friend; to counter domestic anti-war or anti-annexationist sentiment; or to present the transaction internationally as an agreed rather than imposed concession, or at least as one for which some recompense had been provided. I don't know which prevailed in 1848: the US had offered to buy Upper California for more than the eventual postwar cash settlement, but a trade involves a willing seller as well as a prospective buyer.